Adh1b gene polymorphisms in alcoholics of a south indian population

Abstract

Alcohol metabolism is one of the biological determinants that can influence drinking behaviour. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are the principal enzymes involved in ethanol metabolism. Allelic variation of the ADH and ALDH genes can significantly affect vulnerability for the development of alcoholism. Allelic variation and genotypic frequencies of ADH1B have been identified from Indian population. To determine SNP identification in ADH1B gene, blood samples were collected from the subjects. 20% of Family History positive (FHP) alcoholics were heterozygous (ADH1B*1 and ADH1B*2) and 80% of FHP samples were homozygous. In conclusion our results have suggested that ADHB*1 and ADH1B*2 seems to have the ability to prevent alcoholism and have protection against familial alcoholism.